Hammer has been discussed in association with the role for weeks, though for a couple days word was that he'd lost out to Ryan Gosling (Blue Valentine), who had seemingly landed the role before his schedule made it impossible.

Variety reports The Lone Ranger will be Depp's next project after finishing Dark Shadows with director Tim Burton. There's no release date currently for Lone Ranger but the report claims it could open in the fall of 2012.

Revolutionary Road screenwriter Justin Haythe wrote the The Lone Ranger script, which Depp described as "funny" in January.